Media Advisory – Six Nations Community Talks Cannabis Out in the Open

OHSWEKEN (Six Nations) – On Sunday, January 28th, 2018, members of the Six Nations community near Brantford will gather to discuss the results of a recent survey about cannabis use and regulation on their territory. The Six Nations Medical Cannabis Survey ran from December 4th to 31st, 2017, and drew 731 respondent submissions. Jeff Hawk and Aaron Sault of Green Health for Six, the cannabis dispensary that commissioned the survey to get public input, will present the results. Following the presentation, an open mic will be available for members of the community and the wider public to ask questions and voice their opinions, concerns and testimonials.

WHO: Green Health for Six owners, Six Nations community and wider public

WHAT: Meeting to discuss cannabis survey results and what they mean for community health, well-being and sovereignty.

WHY: A majority of respondents use and view cannabis as a medicine that should be controlled by traditional medicine people and cannabis retailers. However, the Six Nations police and Elected Band Council, are working to shut down dispensaries.

VISUALS: People seated as audience, individuals and families standing, speaking, presenting slides, including community members ranging in ages from their 20s to 80s, including cannabis users living with disabilities, cancer survivors, workers and elders managing chronic pain, parents and business owners.

BACKGROUND

A Timeline of Six Nations Cannabis Dispensaries

Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to office in 2015 and pledged to legalize recreational cannabis by July 2018, several Indigenous dispensaries have opened shops on Six Nations Territory, with differing levels of openness to the public. Below is a timeline of events.

Spring 2017 – Medixinal Dispensary opens on Brant County Hwy 54, but does not openly publicize its existence.

June 2017 – Paradise Gardens Hydroponics addresses the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). Members of the National Indigenous Medical Cannabis Association came to speak but were not allowed to address Council.

July 4, 2017 – SNEC releases an official Statement declaring cannabis sales illegal at Six Nations, unless issued under an Ontario government licence, and received with a doctor issued prescription.

August 2017 – Mohawk Medicine, a health and wellness centre on Sour Spring Road opens, including cannabis among their medicinal herbs.

August 2017 – Jeff Hawk opens Green Health for Six at the same location as Medixinal.

August 2017 – SNEC releases the results of its community survey (339 respondents) with the following:
Q. 4: Would you like to see Methadone Clinics on Six Nations?
YES: 37.31% NO: 62.69%
Q. 5: Should Six Nations get involved in medical cannabis?
YES: 51% NO: 24.5% I’M NOT SURE/NEED MORE INFO: 24.5%

October 2017 – Jeff Hawk meets with the New Directions Group, the SNEC Health Agency providing addictions services and responsible for wellness promotion. NDG agreed to a second meeting to foster education but failed to follow up.

October 21, 2017 – A public meeting, “Cannabis: an Indigenous Perspective” is booked to take place at the Six Nations Bingo Hall. SNEC bars organizers and participants from using the hall, and forcing them to meet in the parking lot.

November 16, 2017 – Six Nations Police raid Mohawk Medicine, arresting and charging four people. They confiscate cash and cannabis.

December 4-31, 2017 – Green Health for Six runs its Six Nations Medicinal Cannabis Survey, mailing 2300 copies to households, running the survey in both local papers, and making the survey available online.

January 13, 2018 – Initial results of the Six Nations Cannabis Survey (731 respondents) are published online, on the Green Health for Six website.